Flasher type electric flare



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 7, 1950 v. s. BERRY FLASHER TYPE ELECTRIC FLAREFiled March 28, 1949 Nov. 7, 195o v, s, BERRY 2,528,490

FLASHER TYPE ELECTRIC FLARE .Filed March 28, 1949 l 2 'Sheets-sheet 2 v@.4.

/3 p -6 /2 la K/Sezy INVENTOH BY l l 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 17950 UNITED sTATEsPATENT OFFICE FLASHER TYPE ELECTRICFLARE Virgil S. Berry, Moss Point, Miss.

Application March 28, 1949, Serial No. 83,811

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to portable flares or signals used primarily byoperators of trucks or motor vehicles, forsignaling to approachingvehicles, the danger of a stalled vehicle on the roadside.

An important object of the invention is to provide a iiare which iselectrically controlled to the end that the flare may be immediateh7 setup for operation, eliminating the loss of time which frequently resultsin setting up the well known Wick type of are, wherein it is necessaryto manually light the are.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a flare of theflasher type which has the advantage of being much more conspicuous thanthe usual steady burning are now in comm mon use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a iiasher areembodying a plurality of signal lights controlled by means forintermittently operating the lights.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flasher flareembodying a, housing including hinged closures which when moved toltheir open positions, may be extended to provide supports for thehousing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a flare constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Fig. 2 is a 'plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 oi Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the flare showing the closures intheir closed positions.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the horizontal andvertical partitions which divide the housing of the flare.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the manner ofsecuring the lenses in the nare openings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the housing or casing of the are isindicated generally by the reference character 5 and includes a pair ofidentical box-likeV sections 6 and l. The section 'I is formed with aflange 8 over which the section 6 is positioned, the sections being heldtogether by means of the bolt 9 which passes through an opening in thesection 7, thev threaded end of the bolt being positioned within the nutI0 that is secured to the vertical partition II that divides the upperportion of the housing or casing, into lateral light compartments.

The outer walls of the housing or casing, are

.provided with light openings I 2, the openings` being arranged in pairsat opposite sides of the lpartition I I and disposed directly opposite`to each other, so that light rays from a single lamp will pass throughthe openings at both sides of the casing, and at both sides of thepartition II. These openings are closed by means of the lenses I3 whichare held in place by means of the split wire rings I4, the ringsexpanding into contact with the lugs I 5 extending inwardly from theside walls of the casing, the split wire rings having lingers I6 thatextend inwardly over the lenses, providing means whereby the lenses mayVbe readily and easily removed or replaced.

Mounted within the housing or casing 5, midway the housing or casing, isthe horizontal partition I'I on which the lamp sockets I8 are secured,the lamp sockets supporting the electric lamps I9 directly between eachpair of lenses, to illuminate the lenses. The vertical partition Ildivides the space at the upper portion of the housing or casing directlyabove the horizontal partition I1, into lateral compartments so thatwhen one lamp is lit, the light rays from the lit` lamp will not beprojected laterally into the adjacent compartment.

kA iiasher switch mechanism indicated at I9' is supported within thehousing and is electrically connected with the sockets I8, by means ofthe wires 20, the flasher switch being connected with the plug 2lthrough the wire 22, the plug 2| being designed to t within the usuallighter socket of the instrument board of the vehicle.

The partition Il also divides the housing or casing horizontally toprovide a lower compartf ment 23, the portions of the walls of thesections 6 and 'I opposite to the compartment 23, being cut out in sucha way as to form letters spelling the word Slow A lamp indicated bythereference character 24 is suspended from the partition I 'I andilluminates this lower compartment to cause the word Slow to be clearlyvisible. This lamp 24 is also in circuit with the flasher I9 so that theword Slow will be automatically flashed with the iiashing of the signalsof the flare.

Closures 25 are connected to the lower` edges of the sections 6 and 1 ofthe housing or casing, and are so constructed that they t over the outersurfaces of the sections 6 and 1, completely closing the outer surfacesof the housing or casing protecting the lenses and at the same timeprotecting the housing or casing against foreign matter entering thesame to render it inoperative for immediate use.

These closures 25 are so constructed and arranged that they may swingdownwardly into the dotted line positions shown by Fig. 3 of thedrawings, where they provide inclined supporting legs. Notches 26 areprovided in the flanges 21 of the closures 25, which notches accommodatethe inturned ends 28 of the pivoted arms 29 which are secured to theends of the casing sections 6 and 1, whereby the closures are-held intheir supporting positions.

When it is desired to set up the flare, it is only necessary to swingthese'closures 25 downwardly and set the arms r29.

Y lThe device may be conveniently carried by the handle 3G. f

While I have shown and described a ilare which isprovided with meanswhereby the mechanismthereof may be connected in the .circuit of themotor vehicle through the cigarette lightring socket, it is to be.understood that it is within the scope of the invention to :mount astorage battery within the housing or casing and connect it with thecircuits `of the flare, -to the end that the-are may be of theself-contained type, Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed is:

1. A portable electric flare comprising a casing, lamp Vcompartmentswithin the casing, said lamp compartments having light openings, lampssupported between the light openings illuminating the flight open-ingsatopposite vsides of the casing simultaneously, electric wires providingan elec- 4 trieal circuit between the lamps and a source of electricitysupply, closures hingedly connected with the lower edge of the casing,said closures being movable downwardly away from the casing providing asupport for the casing, and means for securing the closures in theircasing supporting position.

2. A portable electric are comprising a casing embodying a pair ofidentical box-like sections, cooperating flanges on the sectionsconnecting the sections, a bolt extending into the sections, securingthe sections together, said casing having oppositely disposed openingsin the walls thereof, electric lamps arranged within the casing betweenoppositely disposed openings simultaneously illuminating the openings atopposite sides of the casing, wires providing a circuit between a sourceof electricity supply and said lamps, closures hingedly connected to thecasing, said closures including flanges fitted around the marginal edgeof the casing, `said closures being movable downwardly to inclinedpositions with respect to the casing, providing supporting legs, notchesformed on the closures, pivoted arms mounted on the casing engageablewithin the notches normally holding the closures in their supportingpositions. Y VIRGIL S. BERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. inthe le ofthispatent':

UNITED STATES PATENTS Godfrey et ai. May v, 1940'

